Improvement in compound vase or bouquet-holder



HECKER'I. COMPOUND VASE on BOUQUET-HOLDER.

Patented J111y3, 1877.-

N,PETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER WASHINGTON up.

Em r 'rn'rns PA'IEN CHARLES HEGKEBT, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN COMPOUND VASE 0 BOUQUET-HOLDER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 192,761, dated July 3, 1877; application filed May 2,1877.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I,O11ARLEs HECKERT, of the city and State of New York, have invented an Improved Compound Vase or Bouquet- Holder; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification.

My invention has for its objects the supply of a holder for out flowers arranged in bouquets, by the use of which a bouquet may be more quickly and artistically arranged than in the old method of tying flowers into bunches, and which also permits the ready rearrangement of a boquet, or rearrangement of any part of the same without disturbing other parts, and the substitution of new and fresh flowers for those which wither and fade sooner than others, there being a wide difierence in flowers in respect of their power to remain bright and fresh after cutting them from the parent stem.

Besides those enumerated, other incidental advantages are secured by my invention which are hereinafter set forth. 7

The improvements consist of a novel construction and combination of parts, which will be fully hereinafter described.

Figure 1 in the drawing is a side view of a compound vase having a central support or stand, and constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a partial side view and a partial vertical section of the same. Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional details, the section in Fig. 4 being upon the line w a: in Fig. 3.

A A A represent the smaller vases, which, arranged upon the center-piece B, as hereinafter described, together make up a compound vase like that shown in Fig. 1.

Each of the vases A, A", and A has an attached socket, 0, preferably made of metal, and fastened to the vase by cement, or any other suitable means. @Upon the bottom of each socketis formed the hook device for attaching the same to the support. Said device consists of a hook, at, and finger b, the finger being arranged below the hook.

The centerpiece or support B has attached thereto grooved bosses c for the attachment of the vases A A A, the grooves 01 extending vertically over the middle of the under, front, and upper sides of the bosses c, and being recurved downward on the rear upper parts of said bosses, as shown in Fig. 3.

Said groove prevents lateral movement of the vases when the same are arranged on the support B. 1

The vases A A A are separately attached to the bosses c by holding them in the position shown in dotted outline in Fig. 3, lowering them till their hooks pass down somewhat behind the rear of the bosses,thus letting the upper ends of the vases swing outward and downward till the fingers b abut against the under side of said bosses in the grooves 01, in which position they are held by gravity. Said vases cannot be detached from said bosses except by raising their outerends till they assume the position shown in dotted outline in Fig. 3.

The said bosses may be attached to a vertical center-piece, as shown in the drawing; or they may be attached to a center-piece on a bracket, secured to a side wall, mantel-piece, or article of furniture. It is preferable, but not essential, to form the bosses at the ends of short brackets extending from the centerpiece B, or the principal bracket which supports the compound vase or bouquet-holder.

When a center-piece in the form of a stand or support is employed, I prefer to form a socket, 0, Figs. 2 and 3, at the top of said support for the reception of the upper central vase A, the said vase being detachable from said socket, instead of being fastened to its socket like the vases A A A; but the said vase A may have an attached socket like the other vases, said socket being attachable to and detachable from the stand.

The vases A A A are arranged in vertical planes, radially in relation with the central support, and the position for detaching or attaching the vases so lying in a radial vertical plane and comprising the outermost vases cannot be assumed without removing the up per central vase A from the center-piece B.

" All the vases might be so arranged that they could not be detached from the bosses 0 without removing the vase A;but it is not necessary so to arrange any of the vases, except those situated in vertical radial planes between the said central vase A and the lower outermost vases A, as such arrangen'ient is solely for the purpose of preventing the said lower and outermost vases from being accidentally detached by inadvertent movements, the inner vases A being protected from such detachment by their position, asthe outermost ones would be hit first by any inadvertent movement.

The compound vase'or bouquet-holder thus constructed possesses many advantages.

Bouquets may be very elegantly and quickly arranged therein, with or without tying the flowers in bunches. Fewer flowers are required, and flowers with short stems may be used without artificial stems.

When'placed on a center-table the entire set of vases may be attached to a stand-like centor-piece, similar to that shown in Fig. 1; or, when desired for a mantel, one-half of the vases may be removed-that is, removed from one side of the center-piece, to permit the same to rest on the mantel, and to form a halfro'und bouquet. The size'of the holder may be reduced, if desired, by removing some of the lower vases.

Faded flowers can be easily removed from the bouquet and replaced by fresh-cut flowers, thereby prolonging the beauty of the bouquet with slight expense.

The flowers in a bouquet may be easily shifted in their position, to obtain the best contrast and harmony inform and color when the bouquet'proves unsatisfactory'to'the make of the same.

The whole forms an elegant and convenient article for domesticuseand for florists.

'I'claim- The combination, with the center-piece B, constructed or provided with the bosses c, having grooves 01, of the tubular receptacles, each provided withthe book a andfinger b,allsubstantially as and "for the purpose described.

CHARLES HEOKERT.

Witnesses: I

ALEX.' HECKERT, 7 CALEB M. 'HILLMAN. 

